For the last two years, if I was wearing something with pockets, the Streamlight Wedge XT was in one of them. This little EDC light is a handy tool to have around, and I have used it extensively. So after all that time, am I staying with it, or getting something else?Streamlight @ TFB: [SHOT 2026] Streamlight New Releases New Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount VIR Pro: 1100 Lumens + IR Hybrid Streamlight PROTAC HL-X Selected By FBIDisclosures: This light was a Christmas gift from a relative, who purchased it through normal retail channels. Streamlight has no idea who I am.FeaturesThe Streamlight Wedge XT is a compact flashlight that is about the size of a pocket knife. Rather than the tubular design of a traditional flashlight, it is more rectangular. It reminds me a lot of a smaller Microtech OTF knife, both in how it feels in the hand and how it fits in a pocket.Its controls are very simple. There is a single button on the rear of the unit that controls both momentary and constant-on functions. A quick double-tap of the button switches from the high output mode to the low output mode. Streamlight lists output numbers of 500 lumens, 1,900 candela in high mode, and 50 lumens, 200 candela in the low mode. Runtime is two hours in high, 11 hours in low mode.This is a rechargeable flashlight. It has a USB-C port on the side of the body. A status light shows red when the light is still charging, and green when it is fully charged. Charging time varies greatly depending on the wattage of the charger block being used.The pocket clip is once again very reminiscent of a pocket knife. It fits well on pockets with adequate tension. Unlike some of my pocket knives, which are either too tight on jean pockets or too loose on slacks and suit pants, the Wedge XT’s clip works well on both. Wedge XT in charging status Charging complete PerformanceStreamlight has to walk a fine line between performance and ease of carry with this kind of light. For everyday use, it is just about perfect. The high beam is wide with a nice center spot and ample side spill. For tasks like finding the thing you dropped in the bushes or looking down a dark hallway, it works well. The low mode is a nice soft light that doesn't destroy your night vision as much. It's also good for high-stakes operations like finding your bookmark that fell under the bed without waking up your wife. I generally do not carry a weapon light on my handgun. Most of my carrying is strong side IWB with a suit coat, and the extra bulk of even a small light drives me nuts. I prefer a handheld light in a pocket. That light also gets used in all kinds of situations where it would be highly inappropriate to pull out a handgun and point its light at the thing that needs to be illuminated. The Wedge XT works well as a handheld light used in conjunction with a pistol. The controls are on the tailcap where they should be. While it's not as powerful as a TLR-1HL, it is still enough for most situations.But where the Wedge XT really shines (pun intended) is being really usable while also being easy to carry. I have used this light for all sorts of tasks because it's the light that I had with me. Yes, there are better lights that would have been specialized for those situations, but none of those were in my pocket when I needed them. Need to change a spark plug in the parking garage at work? The Wedge XT was there when I needed it. Need to see how far that .458 Win Mag penetrated through the wheel of a car? The Wedge XT is ready. The flat design is great for carrying, but it also has the added benefit of not rolling away. You can set it down on a surface to keep your hands free, and it will not roll off. Whether you are using the light or just putting it on the counter at the end of the day, it will still be there when you set it down.There is one big thing to complain about on the Wedge XT, and it is the lack of protection around the activation button. The button sits high off the rear surface, and there is no mechanical lock-out. There is a way to lock it by holding the button, but that was annoying and made the light slow to use when I needed it, so I decided to live with the occasional accidental activation. I noticed this was worse in certain cars with certain pants, where the light sat at the right angle to push the button up against the seat. The light gets hot when left on, and that serves as a low-tech notification system to turn it off if you cannot see it. I really wish there were some kind of manual switch or cover that would deactivate the light fully.The USB-C charging is a great feature. That charger style has become standard across industries, and there is always one of those cables around. It can be a very slow charging method when used on a low-power connection like a laptop USB port, but being able to charge it from so many devices more than makes up for it. I also like being able to plug it into my phone charger at work instead of needing some other special charger. This is especially nice when the light turns on in your pocket on the way to work and drains the battery.After two years (and a few extra months), it shows some surface wear, but is holding up well. The pocket clip gets the worst of the abuse, and it has scraped up against countless walls and surfaces while riding in my back pocket. All of those bumps and scuffs and several drops from a workbench onto a concrete floor have not left it any less functional than the day it came out of the box. ConclusionOverall, I love the Wedge XT. It is very capable but still easy to carry every day. It's not a high-end rifle light with thousands and thousands of candela, but it doesn't need to be. It's dramatically better than a cell phone flashlight, and easy to use one-handed. It works as a handheld light for use with a pistol, but also for more mundane tasks around your home or job.My main takeaway is that it is so easy to carry that you will have it with you when you need it. A 500 lumen light you will actually have with you at church on Sunday or at the corner store at 11:00PM is infinitely more useful than the 1500 lumen light that was left at home. It's only useful if you have it with you. Streamlight did a great job balancing usability and portability, and it doesn't break the bank. I'll keep carrying this until they make a version that I never turn on accidentally.